Dry brushing has gained popularity among beauty experts for its usefulness in making skin appear younger and healthier. Every beauty magazine is touting the benefits dry brushing offers, but what exactly is it, and how does it help your skin? If you’re interested in learning what dry brushing is, the benefits it brings, and how to implement it into your daily routine, just keep reading!
What Is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is a technique that uses a bristled tool to brush over the skin in a specific way to bring health benefits to the lymphatic and immune systems. Following a brushing pattern, you will help encourage lymphatic drainage while exfoliating the skin and removing dead cells that make the skin appear dull and lifeless. A dry brush tool should have soft yet stiff bristles made from boar hair or a synthetic material. It can either have a long handle, which helps access hard-to-reach areas, or no handle, which may be easier for those who have trouble gripping small objects. The shape of the brush isn’t important; the bristles are where you should focus. Start softer, and once your body has acclimated to the process, you can move on to a firmer bristle.
What Are The Benefits Of Dry Brushing?
Many people swear by the benefits dry brushing brings to their bodies. Although there haven’t been many scientific studies, thousands of people have done their own long-term tests and claim real and extraordinary results. Dry brushing may help reduce cellulite since it helps smooth the skin and stop fluid from building up beneath the surface. It can also improve the immune system as it removes toxins from the body.
The motion of the brushing encourages lymphatic drainage, which promotes health throughout the entire body. It can also help increase circulation by stimulating the skin and blood vessels and directing the fluid throughout the circulatory system. Dry brushing also exfoliates the skin and removes dead built-up cells that create dryness and dull the skin. This exfoliation allows the skin to readily absorb moisturizers which helps improve elasticity and a youthful glow.
How To Dry Brush Correctly
Dry brushing is simple, but if you’re not doing it correctly, you won’t see the benefits your body craves. You always want to work towards the chest, where the fluid can reenter the bloodstream and drain from the lymph nodes. Begin on clean, dry skin for the most effective experience. Starting at the feet, apply medium pressure and begin long, steady strokes upward towards the heart. Make sure to overlap each stroke to ensure you don’t miss any area. From the top of the feet, continue up the shins, over the knees, and through the thighs.
On the back of the leg, repeat the same movements going over the buttocks to t the lower back. On the stomach, there are two options, both of which are equally effective. You can either use circular motions that may encourage digestion or continue with the long overlapping strokes. You can make smaller strokes to reach every nook and cranny on the upper body; you may begin with the hands and work toward the heart. On the underarm, take extra care around the pit area, which is the location of major lymph nodes, to ensure optimal drainage. You may start at the jawline for the neck and chest and brush downwards, finishing with a circular motion around the heart. Be sure to repeat this process at least once for optimal results.
Once you have finished brushing your entire body, it is essential to shower as you normally would to remove all the excess dead skin you have exfoliated off. Don’t use a loofah or cloth that could cause any skin irritation; instead, use your hands to cleanse the entire body gently. After your shower, apply a natural, high-quality lotion to damp skin. The exfoliation process has allowed your skin to absorb this moisture more readily, which will leave you feeling buttery soft, and smooth. If you want to see results, you must continue with the routine of dry brushing regularly. The more you do it, the better your skin and body will feel!
Dry brushing is incredibly popular for many reasons, like increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage and making your skin glow. Sticking with a daily routine will help encourage your body’s health and make you look and feel your best!
